Today’s high school graduates are increasingly questioning whether higher education is worth it, and that’s pushing colleges to rethink the value they bring students. This was a key theme I heard at last week’s SXSW EDU conference, where several panels addressed what today’s generation of students want, and how colleges can respond. It was also a top-of-mind issue for me coming into the conference.
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Monday, March 27, 2023
Credentials Count - Adam Bruns, Site Selection
In January, Indiana-based Lumina Foundation released an update of its “A Stronger Nation” scorecard that tracks the share of working-age adults with degrees or other credentials of value. The national post-high school education rate among adults 25 to 64 years old reached 53.7 percent in 2021, an increase of nearly 2 percentage points since 2019 when the percentage was 51.9. Courtney Brown, Lumina’s vice president of strategic impact and planning and director of the Stronger Nation project, said the gain represents the largest two-year increase the organization has seen since it started tracking the data in 2009 after issuing a call for 60% of adults to have college degrees or other high-quality credentials beyond high school by 2025 to meet labor-market demand and ensure the country’s global competitiveness.
Sunday, March 26, 2023
Worries run high about digital credentials’ expense, academic degrees’ relevance for STEM jobs, survey finds - Rick Seltzer, Higher Ed Dive
About 6 in 10 students, job seekers and employees aiming to change careers think they don’t have the right academic degrees for jobs in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math, according to a new survey commissioned by IBM. The survey, conducted in 13 countries and released Tuesday, also found that 6 in 10 respondents worry digital credentials will be too expensive to earn. And roughly 4 in 10 said the greatest barrier to gaining more skills is not knowing where to start.
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Kennesaw State nationally recognized for micro-credential initiative - Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University has received recognition from the nation’s leading university professional development organization for an initiative that creators say has helped students and professionals better market their skills. The University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) awarded KSU the 2023 UPCEA Innovation in Alternative Credentials Association Award. KSU received the recognition for its micro-credential initiative, which provides students, faculty and staff with badges and certified links they can use on resumes and LinkedIn profiles that demonstrate verification of a particular skill to prospective employers.
Friday, March 24, 2023
Auburn Career Center awarded $330,000 job-training grant - CHAD FELTON, News-Herald
Auburn Career Center in Concord Township has been awarded a $330,000 job-training grant to establish a workforce-development initiative for adult residents of Lake and Geauga counties with developmental disabilities. Officials confirmed Auburn is one of four institutions of higher education to be chosen for the program — “Pathways to Careers – Improving Post-Secondary Education Options for Students with Developmental Disabilities” — by the Ohio Board of Developmental Disabilities. The Ohio State University, the University of Cincinnati and Youngstown State University were also selected.
https://www.news-herald.com/2023/02/16/auburn-career-center-awarded-330000-job-training-grant/
Thursday, March 23, 2023
FGCU, FutureMakers awarded $23 million grant to offer training to untapped workforce Erica Van Buren, Fort Myers News-Press
The FutureMakers Coalition and Florida Gulf Coast University partner for the Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline project in an effort to help connect workers with the necessary training to attain better careers while meeting the workforce needs of employers. The organizations received a $23 million grant to fund the project. The FutureMakers Coalition and Florida Gulf Coast University are united in an effort to help connect workers with the necessary training to attain better careers while meeting the workforce needs of employers. The four target industries for the Equitable Jobs Pipeline are health care, manufacturing, K-12 public education and logistics. The project is being funded by the United States Department of Commerce.
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Congreso de Latinos Unidos selected as one of four local organizations to receive Workforce Solutions grant - Jensen Toussaint, Aldia News
One of the four organizations selected for the Workforce Solutions Grant is Congreso de Latinos Unidos, which will receive $200,000. The organization plans to use the funds to expand its Human Services Pathway Program and partnership with Peirce College. The partnership strengthens the pathway to associate and bachelor’s degree attainment by providing additional college credits and expanding course offerings to students. Through the Workforce Solutions Grant, Congreso will continue to expand and innovate its curriculum that further aligns with the needs of employers, with the goal of preparing their program graduates for a diverse array of career paths and opportunities.
https://aldianews.com/en/leadership/advocacy/200k-congreso-program
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Employer demand for microcredentials is on the rise - Laura Ascione, eCampus News
Employer demand for microcredentials is on the rise, according to a new study from Collegis Education and UPCEA, the association for college and university leaders in online and professional continuing education. The report, “The Effect of Employer Understanding and Engagement on Non-Degree Credentials,” includes the viewpoints of leaders from 500 organizations on their perceptions of the value of non-degree and alternative credentials. Ninety-five percent of those surveyed said they saw benefits from microcredentials, particularly because they show an employee’s willingness to develop their skills (76 percent); demonstrate initiative (63 percent) and are an easy way to communicate employee competencies and skills (60 percent). Organizational leaders were particularly interested in stackable credentials leading to a degree, with 80 percent saying that increased their appeal.
Monday, March 20, 2023
CertNexus Updates AI Certification Program, Certified Artificial Intelligence Practitioner® - PR Underground
CertNexus, the leading provider of vendor-neutral, emerging tech certifications and micro-credentials, has updated its Certified Artificial Intelligence Practitioner (CAIP) certification and training curriculum. CAIP is the leading high-stakes, vendor-neutral certification for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning professionals who want to develop and validate their skills to select, train, and operationalize ML algorithms.
Sunday, March 19, 2023
KSU LEADS NATION IN MICRO-CREDENTIALS. HERE’S HOW IT’S CHANGING LINKEDIN PROFILES IN YOUR NETWORK - Maija Ehlinger, Hypepotemus
Micro-credentialing has become a key part of the continuing education space. Young professionals, career transition candidates, and those scouring job boards for new positions have used the smaller courses to level up a specific skill. Unlike a full degree track, micro-credentials are short-form, competency-based badges designed to showcase someone’s mastery in a hyper-specific subject. Georgia’s own Kennesaw State University is leading the charge to make it easier for students and professionals to market their skills through such credentials. Those in the KSU network can use credentials to verify new skills on their resumes and LinkedIn profiles. KSU recently earned national recognition by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association for its work in the alternative credentialing space.
Saturday, March 18, 2023
How to Use Micro-Credentials to Fill Resume Gaps (and Get a Job) - Electra Nanou, MakeUseOf
University degrees are great for your career, but they take time and money that you may not want to spend more than once on. If you want to fill in the gaps in your resume, consider micro-credentials—fast, cheap, and effective training. Here’s everything you need to know about micro-credentials, from what they are and how they work to where they go on your resume. Keep an eye out for opportunities to get new skills and improve your career prospects.
Friday, March 17, 2023
Clarkson University Awarded $729,000 State Workforce Development Grant for Micro-credential Program
Clarkson University has been awarded $729,000 from the New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development as part of the Workforce Development Capital and Pay for Performance Grant Programs, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. The funding was awarded to Clarkson for its Advancing Industry with Micro-credentials program, which will allow Clarkson to expand its existing micro-credential program to include courses in advanced manufacturing, clean tech, and construction that will result in ready-to-hire graduates in in-demand fields.
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Microcredentials Confuse Employers, Colleges and Learners - Susan D'Agostino, Inside Higher Ed
Three recent studies highlight confusion about alternative credentials. But all parties seek quality, verifiable, bite-size, low-priced online offerings targeting specific industries. Reskilling. Upskilling. Certificates. Certifications. Badges. Licenses. Microcredentials. Alternative credentials. Digital credentials. So many terms. So little agreement on what they mean, least of all in higher ed. “Employers say, ‘It’s great that this individual has these skills, but we’ll ask our own questions to verify the learner’s knowledge,’” Kyle Albert, assistant research professor at the George Washington University Institute of Public Policy, said. “It’s a trust-but-verify situation.”
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Survey Reveals Employers' Views on Microcredential Benefits, Concerns - Rhea Kelly, Campus Technology
Out of 510 organizational leaders surveyed, 95% reported being at least somewhat familiar with microcredentials, and more than two-thirds (69%) said they were extremely or very familiar with alternative credentials or training. Most survey respondents associated a number of benefits with the inclusion of microcredentials on a prospective employee's résumé. Those included: showing an employee's willingness to develop their skills (cited by 76% of respondents); demonstrating initiative (63%); easily communicating employee competencies and skills (60%); and showing that the employee stays up to date with particular subject areas (56%).
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Strategically Aligning Higher Ed and Workforce Using Microcredentials - Falecia Williams, Evolllution
Microcredentials are the next big disruptor in higher education, but implanting them successfully means listening to students and responding to their needs as well as close collaboration with industry to ensure relevancy. With the talent gap continuing to grow and learners looking to stay relevant in the job market, workforce and higher ed need to be on the same page. Microcredentials can help align these two industries—if done correctly. In this interview, Falecia Williams discusses the need to focus on microcredentials, the importance of speaking the same skills language and how to work closely with industry to meet the employer and learner needs.
Monday, March 13, 2023
Why higher ed needs to get on board with micro-credentials - Alcino Donadel, University Business
With alternative and non-degree credentials becoming ever more appealing to employers, colleges and universities are in the perfect position to corner the market. A new study focusing on employers’ perspectives on micro-credentials reveals that while a strong majority of them believe it boosts a prospective hire’s value, not enough colleges and universities are capitalizing on it. More than 70% of respondents agreed that job applicants with non-degree or alternative credentials have increased the past two years and those hires helped their organization fill an existing skill gap (74%) and improved the quality of their workforce (73%). It’s no wonder, then, that 71% affirmed that their organization is becoming more accepting of non-degree or alternative credentials in lieu of traditional four-year degrees.
Sunday, March 12, 2023
Micro-Internships Give Women a Foot in the Tech Industry Door - Ashley Mowreader, Inside HIgher Ed
Judy Spitz, a former Verizon chief information officer, wants to close that gap by helping college-age women receive paid summer internships. Spitz founded Break Through Tech working with Cornell Tech as a partner. The organization’s Sprinternship program places students in short-term programs to gain hands-on tech experience in a workplace setting. The program has proven successful in giving project-based learning opportunities to over 1,000 women and getting the majority of them in that coveted next-step intern role.
Saturday, March 11, 2023
Micro-credentials, maximum impact: Quick Train courses contribute to cleaner, more inclusive economy - Red River College Polytechnic
Manitoba’s only polytechnic is ready to boost Canada’s resilient recovery, with the introduction of Quick Train Canada, a fully funded series of micro-credentials from post-secondary institutions throughout the country. RRC Polytech is part of a coalition of Canadian colleges, polytechnics and cégeps, called Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2), that worked together to secure federal funding for this important training initiative, and is the only Manitoba institution to offer Quick Train courses.
Friday, March 10, 2023
Graduates with industry micro-credentials more likely to be hired, reveals Coursera report - Ayantika Palm, Financial Express
Employers are 72% more likely to hire candidates with professional certificates along with degrees, revealed Higher Education to Employment Survey by Coursera. Furthermore, it suggested that 37% of ‘middle skills’ jobs, (defined as jobs which require some post-secondary education or training but less than a four year degree), still need a degree. In India, unemployment among youth between the age of 20-24 years was at an all-time high of 43.7% in June of 2022 the report read.
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Employers value microcredentials but don’t know how to assess their quality - Natalie Schwartz, Higher Ed Dive
Although a majority of surveyed employers say they value alternative credentials, many also harbor concerns over assessing the quality of education and understanding the skills and competencies they represent. That’s according to a recent survey of 510 employers from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association, also known as UPCEA, and Collegis Education, a technology services provider for colleges. Despite their concerns, 23% of respondents said the greatest benefit alternative credentials provide are giving workers real-world experience.
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Ministry of Education, Coursera to develop innovative lifelong learning system in UAE - Emerates News
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Coursera, a leading online learning platform, to develop an innovative lifelong learning system in the UAE. The agreement was signed during the World Government Summit (WGS) 2023 by Dr. Mohamed Ebrahim Al Mualla, Under-Secretary for Academic Affairs at MoE, and Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, in the presence of Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education, and other senior officials. The MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the two parties in establishing local and international partnerships to promote credit-recommended content in the UAE. The partnership will also support UAE-based higher education institutions in developing credit-worthy micro-credentials.
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